Are you Engaged or just dating...Jesus?

 

Dating versus engaged.

 

 There is quite a difference, as most of us know,  between being engaged to somebody and merely dating them. 

 

When you are engaged, your mindset (should) switch to a "this is serious! Let's start building forever now" mode.

The dating mentality, on the other hand, is one of, "I'm going to check this person out in deeper detail, but I know that my options are really still open."

 

In other words, if something that appears to be better comes along, it's socially acceptable to jump ship and start over...

 

However, if you are born again, your relationship with Jesus Christ is one of engagement. That's right. He exclusively chose you!!

 

He proposed when He died and rose again and knocked on the door of your heart, asking you to accept and trust Him. 

Fully engaged. 

 

You probably are just "dating" Him if you have one foot on the path of following Him and one foot in the world. 

 

Here's an easy way to tell. Are you still clinging to some of your old, empty ways and participating in sinful pastimes a lot more than you should? 

Then I would dare say that you are merely dating Jesus. Some people have labeled it as "adding Jesus to your baggage". 

I believe that is akin to trying to season tainted meat. Going to church and whatnot may cover some of your sinful behavior, but in due time, the foulness is gonna ruin your day. 

 

One of the more ironclad values that we declare at a traditional wedding is when we agree to the "forsaking all others" part of the vows.

This mindset ideally starts the moment that there is a proposal, or maybe even before that!

The phrase "forsaking all others" in a marriage vow is rooted in a biblical understanding of marriage as a covenantal relationship, where individuals commit to prioritizing their spouse above all others, past, present and future.

 

In dating, there is no such proclamation, although most people will have an agreement somewhere down the line about dating exclusively.

 

But until the commitment of engagement and marriage is brought into the picture, dating always leaves the exit or extracurricular door open, and more than just a crack. 

Dating is not a legal and binding (supposedly) act as marriage is.

I've heard that dating is just a dress rehearsal for divorce. 

 

That's why most people I know favor courting over dating. 

 

To "court" somebody means that you are looking at them to possibly be a(the) long term relationship from the start. Also, there is no "try before you buy" in real courting. You don't live together, and you don't cross physical boundaries that God created for marriages. No wham, bam thank you ma'am (or sir).

So when it comes to Jesus, which are you? Are you on a straight track to building a forever with Him, or do you occupy yourself with Him while still glancing and dancing around?

It is imperative that we all answer this one honestly! Eternity hangs in the balance.....

 

 

If you do not personally know Jesus and want to know how to obtain Salvation and Eternity, message me and I will show you how to receive a love you never thought possible!

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Bruce Not Almighty signing off....

 

Bruce Wallace

Christian

Single

Blogger